Five, including infant, drugged, robbed

An eight month old baby became a robbery victim when robbers allegedly drugged him along with his family during a robbery in the Capital on Friday. The police say the infant may have been drugged to prevent him from crying.

The incident came to light on Friday when the family’s domestic help arrived and found the victims, Anil Maheshwari (56) and his wife Urmila (54), unconscious in their bedroom. Maheshwari’s son Manu (30), his wife Tanisha (28), and their eight month old son Aarav lay unconscious in another room. The maid alerted the RWA president, Yogesh Chander Gupta, who called the police.

The family owns a wall clock manufacturing factory in Gulabi Bagh and also runs a showroom in Southeast Delhi’s Lajpat Nagar market.

The victims were taken to Sant Parmanand Hospital where they have been admitted to the ICU and their condition is said to be critical. “We have sent their vomit samples for forensic examination to ascertain if they were drugged or not,” said Dr Sagar Rajagopal, the hospital’s medical director.

“The assailants ransacked the house and two almirahs were found broken. We are waiting for their statement before making any assumptions on the amount of cash and jewellery taken,” said a police officer.

The police suspect the family’s domestic help, Shambhu, a native of Bihar, to be involved in the incident since he’s missing. “The family was probably drugged on Thursday evening and the robbery carried out throughout the night,” added the officer.

A case has been registered at the Civil Lines Police Station and an investigations are on.